Brush Battle
Saturday, April 11th, 6 pm to 10 pm
Old Quebec Street Shoppes
In support of the Guelph Tool Library
The Brush Battle is more than just a painting competition. It’s an act of rebellion in a world quickly becoming dominated by AI “art”. On the evening of April 11th, 20 artists will go head to head in Old Quebec Street Shoppes in a live painting competition, each completing works of art in front of a live audience in just 25 minutes. After each round the paintings will be on display in the Guelph Arts Council. Works will be auctioned off to ticketholders following each round via an online silent auction. Artists will keep 40% of the sale price, with the other 60% helping to support Guelph Tool Library programs and operating costs for the year. Artist profiles are available at https://guelphtoollibrary.org/brush-battle/
Spectator tickets are selling fast, with less than 50% remaining. Single tickets are $30 each, with 4-pack tickets available for $100. VIP tickets, which include a dedicated bar and check-in line and a drink ticket, are available for $50. Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult. Ticket sales support event costs, including artist prizes, as well as GTL programming costs. Tickets are available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/brush-battle and include tax.
Volunteers are still needed for a number of roles, including set-up, tear-down, artist support, and bartending. Interested volunteers are invited to connect at [email protected]. Volunteers must be aged 14 and up, and students can earn up to 6 hours towards their mandatory community service at the event.
This unique event helps uplift local art and artists while providing a chance for community connection through a shared experience. The night will be hosted by energetic emcee Tim Clarke (The Downtown Theatre Project), who will guide the artists and audience through each round with music and commentary. Some special guests from our community will also be dropping in to say a few words throughout the evening.
Brush Battle artist Kate Young states in her artist bio, “I am drawn to vivid and bold marks, and rely heavily on palette knives and scrapers to create layers of paint and medium that interact to create rich texture and movement.” She expressed that the 25 minute timeline will pose an interested challenge, sometimes using that length of time just to mix paint or select tools. She continues, “Rather than working from a fixed plan, I instinctively respond to the painting as it evolves, reaching for colours that speak to me in the moment.”
Attendees will be able to purchase local drinks from Wellington Brewery, Royal City Soda, Hitchhiker Lemonade, and Heartwood Farm and Cidery. Snacks from Decadently Yours Cupcakes, The Olive Experience, With The Grain Bakery, and Humble Chips will also be available for purchase. Valid, government issued photo ID will be required for all alcohol purchases.
All guests at the event are invited to unleash their inner artists and participate in a collaborative canvas, a large “paint by number” mosaic that will reveal itself as the evening progresses. An art themed photobooth with props inspired by classic paintings will be open to everyone, with Instax instant film pictures available for an additional $2 each. Local videography company Community Threads will be capturing the evening on video for an upcoming short film about the Guelph Tool Library that will be screened during Circular Economy Month this October.
Event coordinator Steph Clarke is excited to see how the artists and audience interact at Brush Battle, “I’ve participated in these events as an artist and spectator before, but I’ve never been on this side of things. I’ll get to see things from a unique perspective, and I look forward to watching the artists at work as they are observed by a live audience. I remember entering a total flow state when I competed in these events – I tuned out the music and the noise, it was just me and the canvas.”
A silent auction featuring over 20 gift baskets, handmade goods, and gift cards will be open for bidding from 12pm on Wednesday, April 8th to shortly before the evening comes to a close at 9:50pm on Saturday, April 11th. Everyone is welcome to access the silent auction online here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/brush-battle-silent-auction and items can be previewed prior to the auction opening.
Throughout the night, ticketholders will vote for their favourite artists in each preliminary round. The top 5 artists from the preliminaries will move on to a final round, and the top 3 artists in the finals will receive a cash prize.
The evening is generously sponsored by over 30 donors and supporters, including THE MUSEUM in Kitchener, Stockade Supply, Old Quebec Street Shoppes, The Hive – An Arts Collective, and the Guelph Arts Council, and so many more amazing businesses and organizations you can read about at https://guelphtoollibrary.org/brush-battle/
